“The beings, now known as the Fae, came through the rift only a month ago. Since then, we have learned that the rift was caused by pollution that had spread between our worlds, causing the aether, a veil that once separated our realms, to degrade. This degradation reached a point where it collapsed and forced our two worlds to become one.

Now joining me in the studio, our special guest. Her Royal Highness, Queen Katala, Ruler of the Fae.” The host stood, bowing gracefully to her guest as the Queen takes her seat.

Katala sat, straight backed in the chair, unsmiling and composed. Most of the Fae looked human, only a few physical differences were evident. Their mouths were a little too wide, their ears a little too pointed, but the main difference between us was their eyes. They shone with an inner light. “Thank you Sandra. I am glad of the opportunity to address your people and clear up any, misunderstandings.” Katala nodded, giving the host leave to sit.

Sandra, smooths out her skirt before sitting, her beaming smile fixed painfully on her face. “Of course, I guess that the most common question we get asked is about the Fae’s magical ability?”

The Queen never showed any emotion as she spoke, “this is falsehood. Our luminescence,” she extended her elegant fingers, releasing a crackling blue light, “is a result of biochemical reactions taking place, nothing more. Similar to the properties of your deep sea creatures.” Katala spoke directly into the camera, her ember eyes burning through the screen.

“Interesting. So you have no magical powers?” Sandra smiled.

“No more than any other creature.” The Queen’s eyes were hypnotic as she spoke, the interview continued, but I had lost interest in it.

I switch off the tv, and turn to the window. Watching the children play on the lawn. The heat that had plagued us, still hung thick in the air. No sign of cooler weather to come. I remembered the piercing blue eyes of the man that had saved me, the man that I had watched on the video, stepping from the rift. ‘What did he do to me?’ My gut clenched with the uncertainty.

The Fae had only been here a month, but they were already engaged in talks with our leaders. Downing Street sent out constant updates. The Fae swore that they did not possess magic, ‘then why can’t I get that man out of my head?’ They said that it was our fault that the veil between worlds collapsed. This aether, if the Fae were to be believed, it was the pollution that we had been pouring into our lands and seas, that bled into the aether and caused it to become unstable. They said that our two worlds became one during that storm, the storm that took so many lives, both human and Fae. ‘I suppose that is plausible, but if true, then what did that mean for both our races?’ Humans had enough trouble getting on with each other, how would the Fae blend into our lives.

A cacophony of chatter assaults my ears as the family move into the living room, shattering my peace and quiet. “The whole situation is crazy, humans have always looked up to the stars, wondering if we are alone in the universe. It never occurred that we had neighbours off to the side. Don’t you think that’s funny?” My cousin Alice mused, happily munching on a fresh croissant.

“No, these Fae are nothing but trouble. You seen the things that they brought with them through the rift. Bloody dangerous. There’s dragons out there now.” David rounds on her, stopping her mid-chew.

“There’s also unicorns, you see that video Chris, the unicorn grazing with a bunch of horses in a field? It was so beautiful.” Alice sat down on the couch beside me.

“Yeah, it was pretty wasn’t it? But I can’t help but think that there is more going on. What do we really know about the Fae and their intentions?”

“Who cares, I just want to pet a unicorn.” Alice laughs.

I have to chuckle alongside her. Alice loved unicorns ever since she was a child. Even at the age of 14, she was still obsessed with them. “I wonder what other creatures came through the rift?” I mused.

“You didn’t see?” Alice turns excitedly to me. “They released a list late last night. A full compendium of all the creatures and plants that they had over there. It’s amazing you should look it up, they said they had mermaids and tiny dragons the size of bees, and a rose that changes colour based on your moods. I wish I was Fae, sounds like an exciting place to live.” She finished off her croissant, wiping her fingers on her sleeve.

“I’ll make a note to look that up then.” I smile at her. Wondering just how extensive this list was.

Getting to my feet, I stretch out the kinks created from sitting far too long. This house was too crowded for me as of late. I was so used to being alone in the middle of nowhere, that the constant chatter was giving me a migraine. “I think I’m going to go and stretch my legs for a while.” I nodded to Alice and David as I left the living room and head for the front door.

Alice shouting after me, “be careful.”

Strangeness still clung to the land. The violet sky above, cloudless and endless. The air heavy, thick as soup, smelled of apples. Creatures scurry across the mountain paths. But for now there seems to be an equilibrium, a balance between the inhabitants of this world and the Fae.

I walk up the hills, the babbling brook tinkling beside me, lending  it’s coolness to the heat. Pine trees line the paths, trees from the Fae realm scattered amongst them. I was taken with the notion to explore this new world. Before I had no use for exploration, it was all there in my palm, my phone held the lock to any culture. In this new land, there was mysteries to unlock, things to discover. Smiling to myself, I took off, running up the mountain trail, veering off into the trees and the tantalising enigma which they held.

The sun beat down, relentlessly coating me in sweat as the breath tore for my chest. The sounds of the forest had changed, the songbirds still sang, but their voices were joined with a choir. The small glass birds twitter in the trees, small lizards scurry along branches. The croak of frogs and chitter of insects allowed no silence in the woods. A dark shape crosses the dirt trail ahead of me. “Run!” The shadow races towards me, it was him, the blue eyed Fae. “Run!”

Before I could open my mouth, his hand clamped around my wrist and he was pulling me behind him back down the trail. “What,” I try to speak, but then a roar split the air behind me. I knew not to look, just keep my eyes forward and run, but I had to know. Chancing a glance, I almost fall. “Stop!” Digging my heels into the path, I turn to see the animal behind us. A large cat, it’s fur looked more like scales. The animal was large for a house cat, but nowhere near the size of even a small cougar. Not even two foot long, only standing one foot high. The cat chastening us stopped at the same time as we did. It’s green eyes slanted, eyeing us warily. “It’s just a cat.” I snigger at the man that still held my wrist.

“It’s a xeltrix, a fearsome beast from my land. It may look small, but it can cut us down.” His eyes never strayed from the cat as he spoke.

His words gave me pause, this was not a cat as I knew it. But it was still feline, and there was one thing that I knew. “You never run from a cat. Face it, make yourself look big, and slowly back away.” Moving myself closer to the Fae, I took a step backwards, Dragging him back with me.

The cat advanced, giving a mighty roar, that belonged to a much larger beast. I scream back, the cat flattening its ears. It lunged forward, swiping at the air in front of me. Taking a deep breath, I scream again, my voice ringing through the trees clear and strong, without thought taking a step towards the creature. The cat growls, it’s ears pinned back, looking at me, before it turned and slunk back through the tree line and disappeared into the woods.

“How did you know to do that?” The man eyes me with suspicion.

“I don’t know about your land, but here cats are common. We keep them as pets, not exactly domesticated, but close enough. They hate loud noises, and prey that stands its ground. It confuses them.” I smile at the man, “I’m Chris, and you?”

“Devka.” He nods to me, “I appreciate your assistance, it would appear that I am in your debt.”

“No more than I am in yours. You saved me during the storm, when our worlds collided, didn’t you?” His eyes were even bluer up close. It took all my strength to move away from them and actually see the man that stood before me. His long hair was black, tied at the base of his neck with a leather cord. His nose slightly hooked, pointed ears and wide mouth, that was a trait among his people. High cheekbones and strong jawline. He was slim built, tall, and toned.

“You were hit with our light, when we stepped through. It was an accident. I apologise, you should have no memory of that.” His hand felt hot on my arm, a vibration passing from him to me.

Taking a step back from him, I pull my arm away. Something wasn’t right, I sensed that he wasn’t telling me something, that his motivations were not honest. “All I remember is being zapped with something and then seeing you. Nothing else. Are you staying out here in the hills?”

“We have an encampment not far from here.” His tone was cold and tainted with distrust.

“Well I’m just down the trail, the big house on the left by the stream, you can’t miss it. If you need anything you’re welcome to stop by.”

“Your hospitality is inspiring, I may take you up on that.” A horn sounded from the forest, a mournful wail. He looked back through the trees. “Now I must go, it was nice to meet you Chris.” He bowed low and left, walking between the pines, until he was out of sight.

The whole interaction with Devka seemed strained. ‘Was it just him that was hiding things, or all the Fae?’ I had to ask myself. Having enough excitement for the day, I turn back down the path, picking my way through the woods. Keeping my eyes out for any more wildlife that may cross my path.